Where the Trees Are and The Treehouse at Plays & Players

An Interview by Tom Hannigan

I sat down with Dan Faro, Ashley Fee, Mo Hayes and Nathan McKaskle of improv team Where the Trees Are to talk about their upcoming indie comedy show upstairs at Plays & Players, The Treehouse.

How long have you been a team?

DF: I think like October of two years ago?

AF: Like 18 months or so now.

What made you want to start your own show?

AF: I think we like made our rounds doing every other show in Philly a few times so we wanted to try our own.

MH: After the Brewery ended we wanted to do a similar style of show.

NM: We also wanted a little more stage time or at least something more consistent.

What was the decision in doing it upstairs at Plays & Players?

NM: We had a few rehearsals here and had a lot of fun in the space because it works so well for everything.

DF: When we were scheduling rehearsals we saw we could rent it out for shows to so that was a big part of it too.

Where the Trees Are performing at Figment Theater. Photo courtesy of their facebook account.

Was Quigs a big factor in that too?

Everyone: Definitely.

What sets your show apart from a lot of other comedy shows?

NM: It’s only 90 minutes long.

DF: It’s got a lot of different things in it like stand up, improv and sketch instead of just one of them.

MH: We also go out of our way to make sure it’s not just a bunch of white dudes performing either.

Your show is partnered with Tree Philly as well. How did that connection happen?

AF: They actually reached out to us after we posted a bunch of stuff about trees on our Instagram. We went there and met them and everything. Now we promote their events, create funny video content for their website and they promote our events.

MH: They’re really cool. Their whole thing is to help plant more trees in the city.

AF: They gave us a bunch of shirts and stuff to give away for the first show it was awesome.

NM: I think some people might have been disappointed to not get shirts though.

Tree Philly. Courtesy of their facebook page.

Is there anyone on the next show you’re really excited for?

MH: I’m so excited for Cecily Chapman. I saw her a few years ago in Philly’s Phunniest and loved her so much. Then after the show I like attacked her outside telling her so. She’s so funny.

NM: I think everyone is really good but I think I’m most excited for The Flat Earth.

DF: Yeah the Flat Earth is always awesome, I can’t wait to see what Beth and Vegas too, they’re both so good.

MH: Chanel Ali is so funny too. I can’t wait to see her.

Where the Trees Are at the Charm City Comedy Festival. Photo courtesy of their facebook page.

What’s your favorite off stage moment as a team?

DF: Probably the parties at Gabs.

NM: Yeah they’re always really fun.

AF: Baltimore, that was a lot of fun.

MH: I think Jack’s birthday was a lot of fun.

DF: We hang out a lot and talk online all day.

AF: Getting my hair cut by Mo. That counts as offstage.

How often will you be putting up a Treehouse show?

NM: It’s looking like every month and a half? We’re booked through November and hopefully we’ll do more after that.

That’s great. Thanks for talking with me.

The next Treehouse show is June 25th at Plays & Players at 8pm. To learn more follow Where the Trees Are and Tree Philly for upcoming shows and tree related information you can like their below Facebook pages.